Exploratory Tour Pt. 2 — NYC
NOVEMBER 29, 2019
On the bus once again and this time headed to NYC. I took a chunk out of Special Topics in Calamity Physics, a mysterious, enchanting and cringeworthy novel by Marisha Pessl. Sitting with a different art form helped set the tone for this second leg of the exploratory tour, and I listened to Lump, Laura Marling’s most recent album in collaboration with Mike Lindsay. It was nice to spend time immersed in other women’s crafts of world making, storytelling and word weaving (all tasks I try to take on in my songwriting). My first three nights in the city I stayed alone at an air b-n-b in Brooklyn, just a couple minutes’ walk from the subway. I slept almost all day Tuesday, finally waking up in time to head to the first show at Branded Saloon. Traveling, playing and meeting all these people along the way is a great privilege and also… very tiring. I was grateful for time to sleep and read and lounge after the three bus rides and jam-packed previous 2 days. It turns out that day of rest set me up for the the next 4 days as I met up with old friends, played two more shows, walked along the streets of NYC at midnight in high heels I didn’t know exactly how to wear and made a handful of random connections that were exhilarating, inspiring and incredibly helpful.
Visiting Subway fatigue
Grace being Grace
weird smiles and witch hats in NYC
Another close childhood friend from the Philippines, Grace, met me in Manhattan on Thursday with a black witch’s hat in tow. She snapped two delightfully dorky shots that I feel compelled to share above. Grace and I celebrated Halloween by ordering in, watching a horror film, drinking wine and talking late into the night. I feel as comfortable being around Grace as I do being alone. There are few people that I feel as un-self-conscious around or uninhibited with. Spending part of this first trip to the city with this dear friend was the ideal. It was fitting to galavant around NYC like we used to gallivant around Metro Manila.
I was fortunate to play three different venues during this trip. I started with a set at Branded Saloon in Brooklyn. The atmosphere was cozy and friendly. After I finished playing I got to spend some time chatting with the owner and his partner, both kind and generous folks. I was given a tour of the Halloween decor both upstairs and downstairs. If you have the chance, go check out Branded Saloon for a drink and perhaps a tasty treat.
Wednesday night I joined a the ranks of local musicians and singers performing for the benefit put on by LALM (Leave a Lasting Mark), an organization which works to raise money for different charities and non-profits. The event was hosted at The Bitter End, a legendary venue which has welcomed a wide range of performers. Its doors have been open for over 50 years. About halfway through the night I joined a handful of guys on the stage to perform Little Red Rooster, a Blues Standard credited to Willie Dixon and famously covered by the Rolling Stones.
Saturday, after a lazy morning, Grace and I headed from Harlem back down and over to Brooklyn for my last gig, a songwriter showcase at the ever-cool Leroy’s Place , an interactive gallery and gift store. Leroy’s Place is an intriguing little studio with whimsical, imaginative and unique pieces of art. There were a plethora of monsters, puppets, and art as well as other gifts like jewelry. As you can see from the picture below, I literally played under a huge puppet tree with multiple wonderfully bizarre stuffed animals looking on.
The owner, Serene, is an abundantly generous and warm presence. It was easy to tell that this studio was made with great enthusiasm and love. At one point Serene showed me the epic puppet perched at the back of the store, pulling a stick to make it strum a life-sized guitar (pictured at end of blog!). She’s great and so is her place—Leroy’s Place. Please, please, please go pay her a visit and check out this imaginative little space if you get the chance to hit up Brooklyn. And follow the studio here.
Notable artists I met along the way:
Jim Kuras is a talented bass player who hooked me up with two of the three gigs above. I was grateful to have him play with me on a couple gigs during his North Carolina days. Jim has proved a loyal supporter of my work, offering not only encouragement and engagement around my music but also honest, thorough and serious advice on being an independent musician. Follow him here for news about any upcoming gigs or projects and check out some videos of his original stuff here and here.
It was exhilarating to watch Kelsea Vox start out the LALM showcase at The Bitter End. Her energy and charisma seemed effortless, but in the brief time I had sitting and chatting with her it became clear that she takes her craft very seriously and works hard at it. Follow her band tongue. She is also a very talented seamstress and weaves her passions for music and clothes together in her own unique way. Follow her journey as a multi-faceted artist here .
A big thanks to Michael Olatuja, who not only helped me navigate my way back to my air b-n-b in the wee hours of the morning but also let me tag along to Blue Note and listen to the Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Robert Glasper. Michael is a gifted bassist, artist and music producer with two fantastic albums out now and one scheduled to come out in March of 2020. His first album, Speak, received the Independent Music Award for Best Album in R&B/Soul. Follow Michael here to keep up with his music, travels and projects, check out his site and especially make sure to check out this video to hear more about his upcoming album Lagos Pepper Soup. I’m excited to continue to follow Michael’s music and grateful for the chance to meet him in person.
I found myself swept up in the experience of being in this big city, navigating public transportation for the first time since my days in Manila and feeling all the feels of a city girl who has been too long away from the crowded and bustling metropolitan days of her youth. Since moving back to the U.S.A. for college I had always wondered when I’d finally get to NYC. I’m glad it happened this way. I’m so glad I got to play and sing and wobble around the Big Apple with the goal of sharing and hearing music. It was a fitting introduction to the city. I’m already looking forward to our reunion (tentative plans to return end of January).
